He rang the bell for Hedges.
"Her ladyship has ordered dinner for nine o'clock," he said, when the
butler appeared.
"I believe so, my lord."
"It will be inconvenient to me to wait so long to-day. I shall dine at
seven. You can serve it in this room, leaving the dining-room for Lady
Hartledon. Mr. Carr dines with me."
So Hedges gave the necessary orders, and dinner was laid in the
breakfast-room. Thomas Carr came in, bringing the news that he had
succeeded in putting off his appointment. Lord Hartledon received him in
the same room, fearing possibly the drawing-room might be invaded by his
wife. She was just as likely to be home early from Chiswick as late.
"We have it to ourselves, Carr, and I am not sorry. There was no
certainty about my wife's return, so I thought we'd dine alone."
They very much enjoyed their tete-a-tete dinner; as they had enjoyed many
a one in Hartledon's bachelor days. Thomas Carr--one of the quiet, good
men in a fast world--was an admirable companion, full of intelligence and
conversation. Hedges left them alone after the cloth was removed, but in
a very few minutes returned; his step rather more subdued than usual, as
if he came upon some secret mission.
"Here's that stranger come again, sir," he began, in low tones; and it
may as well be remarked that in moments of forgetfulness he often did
address his master as he used to address him in the past.
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